LINDA DEUTSCH
Posted on 08/03/2006 8:35:10 PM PDT by Anti-Bubba182
LOS ANGELES - The movie that could be the most important of Mel Gibson's career is one that may never be released if the actor and law enforcement authorities prevail.
But at least one media outlet is seeking access immediately to the potentially explosive video and audio of Gibson's drunken driving arrest.
The visual and audio record could add fuel to the controversy over Gibson's anti-Semitic tirade at a deputy who pulled him over and his self-described belligerent behavior toward deputies when he was brought to a sheriff's station in the early morning hours of July 28.
TMZ, an Internet celebrity news site which first released leaked sections of Gibson's booking report, maintains the tapes should be seen and heard by the public to assess whether the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department gave Gibson preferential treatment.
"We want the tapes not just because of Mel Gibson but because the tape puts the conduct of the Sheriff's Department in context," said Harvey Levin, head of TMZ. He said he had learned that the deputy who arrested Gibson radioed ahead to the station that someone should be prepared to videotape the scene because of Gibson's behavior.
"From what I understand, the deputies were very excited because Mr. Gibson was there," Levin said Thursday. "The tape may show them gathering around to peer at him."
Los Angeles' leading First Amendment lawyers said it will be an uphill battle to obtain the tapes before the case is resolved.
Attorney Douglas Mirell predicted authorities would invoke the investigative records exemption to the California Public Records Act, which is the single most litigated exemption...."
(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...
The shows wouldn't exist if not for the ratings. Most of those shows do nothing except establish "brands" or sell tickets.
Yeah, if you want to totally ignore their subliminal political/cultural messages and POV. I've been professionally and intellectually involved with TV and its cultural consequences since the 1960s. While what you say is true, in a sense, you're engaging in what I call "Lowest common denominator" thinking. It has nothing to do with real-life results.
LINDA DEUTSCH
Yeah, if you want to totally ignore their subliminal political/cultural messages and POV...
Are you saying these messages intentionally embedded in television programs?
Do bears sell TP in the woods?
Well then, I have to disagree (about the intentional embedding, not the bears). The only thing I've seen embedded in TV is a kind of alternate universe of the over-privileged and fictional effortless lives.
Name a worse example.
John Wayne took a beating in the press for supposedly racist comments.
Chaplin wasn't let back into the U.S. for decades for pro-commie stuff.
I think Mel was an ass, but I think releasing that tape would be way over the line.
So, you don't watch Cops?
Bad boys
Whatcha want, watcha want
Whatcha gonna do
When Sheriff John Brown come for you
Tell me
Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do
Yeaheah
CHORUS:
Bad boys, bad boys
Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do
When they come for you
(Repeat)
When you were eight
And you had bad traits
You go to school
And learn the golden rule
So why are you
Acting like a bloody fool
If you get hot
You must get cool
CHORUS
You chuck it on that one
You chuck it on this one
You chuck it on your mother and
You chuck it on your father
You chuck it on your brother and
You chuck it on your sister
You chuck it on that one and
You chuck it on me
CHORUS
(Repeat)
Nobody naw give you no break
Police naw give you no break
Soldier naw give you no break
Not even you 'idren naw give you no break
Hey hey
CHORUS
(Repeat)
Why did you have to act so mean
Don't you know you're human being
Born of a mother with the love of a father
Reflections come and reflections go
I know sometimes you want to let go
Hey hey hey
I know sometimes you want to let go
Bad boys, bad boys
Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do
When they come for you
(Repeat)
(You're too bad, you're too rude)
(You're too bad, you're too rude)
Bad boys, bad boys
Whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do
When they come for you
(Repeat)
(Repeat)
You chuck it on that one
You chuck it on this one
You chuck it on your mother and
You chuck it on your father
You chuck it on your brother and
You chuck it on your sister
You chuck it on that one and
You chuck it on me
CHORUS
(repeat 'til the end)
Yes, release the tape. But tell us who Harvey Levin's source was at the same time and give the two equal coverage. Tit for tat (or tat for tit, as George Bernard Shaw made clear to an attractive Suffragette).
Harvey Levin can stick it up his arse.
No I don't watch cops.
We're already on the downward side of the scandal. People are already getting bored with it. Time for a new scandal.
The tape, when/if it's released, won't make a bit of difference.
The real story here is that the celebrity cage has gotten a lot smaller. Don't think for an instant the digital photos of Mel hammered have not been noticed by other stars.
To paraphrase that great star, Norma Desmond: the scandals haven't gotten larger, the pictures have gotten smaller.
No I don't watch cops.
Basically a show in which poor people get arrested in their homes, out on the street, etc. etc. Not a show to watch if you're looking for fashion or grooming tips.
I think that the problem is that most FREEPERS are too young to remember old Hollywood scandals, which newspapers and even news shows on early T.V. and, of course radio, used to blare constantly. But the old studio system used to pay of cops and gossip columnists, quite a lot, so most things never did get out to the public.
I would imagine Mel's lawyers are going to tie up all tapes.
Today, anyone with a cell phone can take a picture of a young starlet with her hand down a bus boy's pants. More than being worth a thousand words, it's probably worth $20,000.
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